Glendale High golfer Caletena, Crescenta Valley conquer Brookside

Golf: Nitros sophomore earns medalist honors in Pacific League match won by Falcons.

PASADENA — Russell Caletena got to Brookside Golf Course No. 2 aware the conditions of the greens might not be too favorable for him leading up to Thursday’s Pacific League golf match.

Earlier in the week, the course underwent a round of aerification, a type of preventative maintenance that leaves small holes on the course designed to loosen soil.

Caletena, a sophomore at Glendale, didn’t seem to mind the conditions all that much. Caletena shot an even-par 70 to earn medalist honors in a match won by Crescenta Valley.

“I came here Wednesday to practice some things, like my chipping” said Caletena, who finished with five birdies. “I had seen that the greens had been punched.

“I wanted to see how they were rolling [Thursday] and try to get used to the speed. You have to just go out there and hit the ball close to the hole. I made a couple of putts for birdie.”

Caletena carded a four-over-par 35 on the front nine before regrouping to shoot a four-under 31 during his last four holes.

Crescenta Valley received a 72 from Paul Park, a reigning All-Area selection, to finish at 361. Arcadia, the defending league champion, finished with a 386, followed by Burroughs (409), Glendale (427) and Burbank (429).

Crescenta Valley, which finished second in the first league match March 13 at De Bell Golf Club, also received a 73 from AJ Roa, 77 from Jong Hyuk Hong, 78 from Brandon Cho and an 81 from Cody Renfro.

The result left Crescenta Valley second-year Coach Lee Pope pleased.

“Right now, I’m ecstatic about what we were able to do,” Pope said. “The team is starting to play good golf and the scores are starting to get lower.

“I’m just very happy with the way we played today. Now, we are tied for first with Arcadia going into the next match.”

The next league contest will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Santa Anita Golf Course in Arcadia.

Burroughs turned to freshman Louis D’Aquila, who finished with a 78.

D’Aquila said he didn’t encounter too much difficulty on the greens, which were partially covered with sand.

“You just have to be able to go out there and fight through it,” D’Aquila said. “The greens were a little bumpy, but it can be a confidence booster when you play well in those type of conditions.”

Daniel Kesicbasian finished with an 80 for the Indians, who got 82s from Patrick Colbert and Dylan McNeely and an 87 from Tnick Trivimol.

Glendale received an 83 from Dong Yoo, an 86 from Sammy Do, a 90 from Kent Asano and a 98 from Arman Aloyan.

Burbank was led by senior John Grasse, who notched an 83.

“The greens were packed, making it hard to putt sometimes,” Grasse said. “I hit the ball well on my tee shots.

“We just have to keep practicing and stay with it. I think we will improve.”

Jason Apingapong had an 84 for the Bulldogs, who got an 86 from Joe Grasse and 88s from Dylan Sherry and Sean Lashari.